Tree Toga street festival is Saturday

The Tree Toga street festival, a celebration of Saratoga Springs’ commitment to growing an urban forest, starts at 10 a.m. Saturday on Henry Street in ‘The Gut’ of the city.

The festival highlights Arbor Week, which was established by Mayor Joanne Yepsen by proclamation and ends on Saturday. Arbor Day, by the way, falls on Friday this year.

Free events such as how-to demonstrations, food, live music and children’s activities will be held between Lake Avenue and Caroline Street. The city Public Works Department will plant 17 large-growing trees in the commercial core, a high-priority planting area in the city’s Master Plan. Volunteers will plant another five trees in the area. Pedestrians and motorists may already see an ‘X’ spray-painted near Four Seasons Natural Foods store, one of several downtown sites proposed for tree planting. Volunteers will plant 25 additional street trees in front of homes throughout the city.